52:18 Your First Halloween

I Want to Remember

Your First Halloween

I want to remember dressing you up for your first Halloween. I debated for a long time about what to dress you as for Halloween. Your daddy and I LOVE Halloween,  so I knew we needed something unique and special!  I bought you material for a turtle costume (that fell through), a peacock costume (I thought you'd be uncomfortable), so THE day of Halloween, I pulled together these materials and made you an octopus costume! I.LOVED.IT! We took you trick-or-treating at a friends house, then we took you to the mall to show you off. You were so smiley this night and everyone just loved looking at you and all your legs! 
I also want to remember this day because last year on Halloween I told your Papa that you were in my tummy! Remember that story?! He was so surprised that he thought I was "tricking" him for Halloween - but you ended up being the best "treat" we could have ever asked for.

Fun in the Fall!

I seriously love fall! There are always so many fun things to do - pumpkin patch, scarecrow festival, drinking apple cider, carving pumpkins, and raking the leaves! But having a kid to do these things with makes it all SO much better! Unfortunately, along with the changing of the season, comes a lot of stuffy noses, congestion, and coughs! Half my students were sick this week and even our daycare was even closed half of the week because her kiddos got sick! Boo, to sickness, but snaps to having fun in the fall! 

 

Annie visiting me on Halloween day! Grandma was babysitting so she snuck her in! Lucky momma!

Trick or Treat, Painted Feet!
 Footprint candy corn project that Anniston created at daycare! First craft project is in the books!

52:17 Making Rasberries

I Want to Remember

Making Rasberries

You are just beginning to teeth and you are drooling so much. Whenever you just start drooling you make all these little spit bubbles – making raspberries. You haven’t been too fussy when teething so far, but there are times when I can tell your uncomfortable and I just want to take away your pain.

Sleep Needed
So Anniston's perfect sleep schedule is being destroyed! I think it is a mix between her in the early stages of teething, growing so she is getting hungry in the middle of night, and she is growing out of the whole being swaddled situation. I don't know how normal adults function with this little of sleep, so I am truly hoping this is just a short lived phase, because this momma needs some serious sleep!

Drooling Monster
Along with the early stages of teething some drooling. I mean A LOT of drooling! She is drooling through bibs, sucking on everything, and going through multiple outfits/day. Turns out there is a whole market for teething babies, so what did I do? I bought an assortment of EVERYTHING. Seriously, and turns out she doesn't like half of it! She loves when things are really cold and things that she can stick in her mouth and gnaw on. I am sure things will come more in handy as she begins to develop more teeth, but as for now, she is loving her cold Joshua giraffe and grapes teether.

52:16 Your First Week of Daycare

I Want to Remember

Your First Week of Daycare

I want to remember your first full week of daycare. You did it! I think you did better than mommy this week. Daddy went with me for the first day of drop off and he just hugged me as I cried in the driveway. I knew you were in wonderful hands, but I just felt like I was letting you down by leaving you for so long. I don't think daycare will ever get easier, but picking you up and seeing your smiling face is my favorite part of everyday. 

Daycare Blues
Okay, so if you're reading this and you're even thinking about getting pregnant, you should probably find a daycare...NOW. Seriously, daycare is really difficult to find! Well, great daycare that is!  Luckily I found a wonderful babysitter - after several interviews and house/center visits. She is even kind enough to take the time to text me and send me pictures of my Annie smiling or just to tell me how her days are going! She totally wins brownie points for that!
 But I will say that I did struggle with finding daycare, so I can't give much advice. Okay, but really, as we looked around, I quickly realized that some people should NOT be watching children! It is quite terrifying actually! But like I said, I definitely had my share of interviews to determine what was best for us, so we saw quite the range of personalities/schedules/houses/centers/payments/beliefs.  
We chose an in home center because there was few children (only 3) and I just felt like I would be able to know exactly who was with my child all day, rather than having different workers cycling in and out throughout the day. We are also able to have Nick drop off and me pick up after work, which really works out for our scheduling.  
In the end, there is nothing easy about daycare, but my advice is just to know your options and don't just settle with daycare, they will end up spending more time with your baby than you at times, so you want someone that you can trust, that works with your schedule, and your personality! And the fact that I found someone that does awesome theme daycare days - like PJ day - means I found the right one. Needless to say, I am in Heaven! 

Pajama Day at Daycare!

Annie with Hudson

Annie with Lily

52:15 Your First Cold

I Want to Remember

Your First Cold

I want to remember you being so strong through your first real sickness. You had to feel so miserable, yet you never got fussy or irritated. Your little coughs sounded so congested and your nose was so plugged. I would have done anything to make you feel better. Thank you for being so tough for mommy and smiling through the yucky feelings.

Being Sick Sucks

When your baby is sick, you feel absolutely helpless. And that, is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad feeling. I always remember when I grew up my mom saying, "I wish I could just be sick for you" or "I wish it was me in pain instead." Well, I totally understand her statement now. Every time she coughed, sniffled, or sounded raspy my heart just broke! But I will admit that Boogie Wipes (especially the grape ones), Snot Suction Bulbs, and warm mist humidifiers are miracle workers. And I will always have these items on hand for me for future sniffles - because unfortunately, I know this isn't the last of them. 

52:14 Attaching Yourself

I Want to Remember

You Attaching Yourself

I want to remember the first time you really began attaching yourself to things. You recently learned how to grab a hold of things and now you have a few things that you never let go of - Joshua Giraffe, Sophie your Stuffy, & your Pink Boa Paci that mommy made (the stores definitely didn't sell cute enough ones for you). But whenever these friends are in your grasp you are calm and cute as a button!

 Cool as a Cucumber

Annie and I have had to take a few trips back to SD solo style. Nickolas has to work and I have been going during the week. So unfortunately, that meant long road trips with just the two of us. That song "Just the Two of Us," sounds pleasant, but clearly Will Smith wasn't referring to a road trip with an infant. Whenever she cries I feel like I need to pull over, take her out, and soothe her until she calms down. Unfortunately, as soon as I put her back in the car seat, she isn't calm anymore. I have found that Joshua Giraffe and Sophie her Stuffy are life savers. She just sucks on them and plays with them and she truly is cool as a cucumber. 

52:13 Discovering Your Hands

I Want to Remember

You Discovering Your Hands

Oh my goodness, you have discovered your hands and it is the sweetest thing I have ever seen. There are times were you will just sit on our lap and fiddle with your hands or chew on your hands for ten minutes at a time. There are times where I am pretty sure you are praying. And I say a little prayer too, because I feel so grateful for having you in my life. 

 

Drooling, Chewing, and Playing, Oh My!

Okay, so I didn't realize that babies started drooling this soon. So for about two weeks I seriously thought Anniston was teething!! I know, I was naive. But out of nowhere she was sticking everything that she could get her hands on in her mouth - blankets, hands, rattles, even my hair! Oh yes, she discovered I have hair and that she really likes to pull on it. Well, needless to say, I learned that this stage is completely normal and she still has quite a ways to go before teething. Thank goodness, because she is growing up way too fast already!

52: 12 Your First Flight

I Want to Remember

Your First Flight

You did so well on your flights to and from Colorado. On the way home our flight was delayed, but yet they put us on the plane anyway. And we waited...and waited...and waited. Although you looked pretty upset in this picture, you couldn't have been more sweet cooing and ahhing on the plane. Thank you for being you.

Up, Up, and Away!
Everyone knows that flying with a baby can be stressful. So I was very hesitant about these flights. I read up on what to do, helpful tips, and what to do if things go crazy! Well the most common thing I saw again and again was to make sure they were sucking while the plane was ascending and descending.  So of course I went into panic when Anniston wouldn't suck on anything while we went up! But she didn't seem bothered by the plane at all. The only time she was bothered was on our way home. We were delayed, next to a drunk man that almost made us de-plane (true story), and we still had a three hour drive after we landed. Luckily for this momma, both dad and baby slept the whole car ride home. Cheers to flexible babies and new adventures! 

Schedule. What Schedule?
 So BEFORE we went to Colorado. We had a schedule. A concrete, I know when Annie will sleep, eat, cry, poop, and spit up kind of schedule. Now that we are home, I cannot seem to get her back on her seamless schedule again. She is going to bed later, waking up earlier. Sleeping shorter periods and eating faster. All in all I think my baby girl is growing and this momma needs to keep up! Hopefully we can get back on track...before I go back to work! Eeek!

Right before getting on her first plane ride to Colorado! 

 

52:11 Being Naked is Fun

I Want to Remember

Being Naked is Fun

I want to remember how big you smile whenever I let you be free for awhile. I love holding you and nuzzling your soft skin or making you lock out your little legs and watching you squeeze your bottom or just watching you and your kicky legs go crazy. Being naked it fun, freeing, and pretty dang fabulous.

Being Naked is oh so Nice 

I am fairly certain that Anniston is happiest completely in the buff. I can't blame her though. Being strained to an uncomfortable diaper cannot be very soothing. She has been known to give some of her biggest smiles and sweetest coos when she is naked. There are days where I change her diaper and we just hang out on some soft blankets and have story time, tummy time or just sing some songs with no worries at all - until she pees all over the soft blankets that is! Let's face it, life is better in the buff.

52:10 How Comfortable You are Against Me

 I Want to Remember

How Comfortable You are Against Me

I want to remember the first time daddy helped me put you into one of these. I needed to get things done around the house and the thought of putting you down was not pleasant. So I threw on the K'Tan and lifted you up and daddy wrapped you tight up against me. I spent the next hour just doing things here and there, completely at bliss because there you were, nuzzled in, right up against me. Right where you belong. 

 Baby K'Tans and Baby Bjorns are Fabulous.

Oh my, these things are life savers. How did they ever accomplish anything without these handy things! I wear my Baby K’Tan just around the house when I am trying to clean, eat, well really do anything with my hands! She loves it and all the different positions you can do with it! The Baby Bjorn is perfect for walks and grocery shopping! I don’t always feel like lugging out the stroller for walks or carrying in the car seat when I need to make a quick trip into Target. Yup, this thing rules for those situations and Annie loves being all snuggled into it. And I can’t complain about grocery shopping when I look down and she’s all nuzzled up against me.

52:9 Our Nightly Walks

I want to Remember

Our Nightly Walks

I want to remember the way that look up at me during our daily walks. Sometimes I just talk to you about what I am feeling, questions I have, songs that are in my head. And you just listen and look. And there are times when I feel like you completely understand what I am saying. Thank you for being such a great listener.

Strollers rule. 

Well, when you remember them that is... I learned the hard when Grandma and I took Anniston to her first trip to the Mall of America. Carrying a newborn, shopping bags and trying to shop is not the easiest of tasks. You would think the Mall of AMERICA would at least have newborn strollers to rent out. Nope, so we definitely got our workout in that day! Lucky for us, Annie Bananie is a natural shopper and enjoyed every bit of the experience! 
Now that Annie is a bit older, and I am back to feeling like myself, I have started running again! So that means jogging stroller is out and this thing seriously dominates. We have the B.O.B jogger and it it so smooth, light and easy to maneuver! Overall, our stroller has gotten many morning walks, nighttime runs, and shopping experiences in it already and Annie loves looking out at the World around her as we stroll. So much to take in and so much to do!